Concrete dowel slip tube assembly

ABSTRACT

A concrete dowel slip tube assembly is provided for use in maintaining a planner consistency of a cured concrete slab formed on a support surface. The assembly comprises a plurality of elongate slip tubes, each having a length dimension and a tubular hollow interior compartment. Dowels are slidingly engageable to the hollow interior compartment to allow for translation along the interior compartment. A support frame defines a plurality of integral slip tube retaining members, disposed at evenly spaced locations along the support frame, the retaining members being configured to receive and engage associated slip tubes to the support frame in a common defined orientation. The support frame and the retaining members are formed as a unitary construction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to the art of concreteconstruction, and more particularly to a device for facilitating theplacement of slip dowel rods within a concrete slab.

In the art of concrete construction, it is commonplace to form “coldjoints” between two or more poured concrete slabs. Such cold jointsfrequently become uneven or buckled due to normal thermal expansion andcontraction of the concrete and/or compaction of the underlying soilcaused by inadequate substrate preparation prior to pouring of theconcrete. As a means of preventing buckling or angular displacement ofsuch cold joints, it is common practice to insert smooth steel dowelrods, generally known as slip tubes or slip dowels, within the edgeportions of adjoining concrete slabs in such a manner that the concreteslabs may slide freely along one or more of the slip dowels, therebypermitting linear expansion and contraction of the slabs while at thesame time maintaining the slabs in a common plane and thus preventingundesirable buckling or unevenness of the cold joint and in adjacentslabs.

In order to function effectively, slip dowels must be accuratelypositioned parallel within the adjoining concrete slabs. Thenon-parallel positioning of the dowels will prevent the desired slippageof the dowels and will defeat the purpose of the “slip dowel”application. Additionally, the individual dowels must be placed withinone or both of the slabs in such a manner as permit continual slippageor movement of the dowels within the cured concrete slab(s).

In commonplace to form large concrete slabs using monolithic orcontinuous concrete pour methods. Such slabs are formed by continuouslypouring large quantities of concrete without the use of forms or coldjoints in order to reduce costs. Therefore, fracturing of the slab isprevented by including tooled joints or sawcuts in the slab where coldjoints would otherwise be needed. Additionally, concrete reinforcementmaterial such as wire mesh or segments of rebar are initially placedinto the area in which the continuous pour is to be made, and inparticular those areas where it is contemplated that sawcuts will beincluded in the resultant slab for purposes of preventing fracturingthereof. The wire mesh or other reinforcement material is preferablyelevated above ground level by the placement thereof upon a support footor seat.

In addition to having concrete reinforcement material disposed withinthose portions of the slab in which a sawcut is to be made, it is alsodesirable to incorporate slip dowels into such portions to allow theseparate sections of the slab which are defined by the sawcuts to moverelative to each other while preventing any buckling or angulardisplacement thereof. One prior art method of incorporating slip dowelsinto those areas of a continuous pour where sawcuts are contemplatedinvolves manually “stabbing” the slip dowels into predeterminedlocations of the uncured concrete pour. This method, however, isdeficient in that there is no way to insure that the slip dowels will bemanually positioned within the uncured concrete in parallel relation toeach other, or will be maintained in parallel alignment to the topsurface of the concrete pour during curing. As previously explained, ifthe dowel rods are not in parallel alignment, the separate sections ofslab as defined by the sawcuts will be prevented from moving relative toeach other.

Another prior art method of incorporating slip tubes into a monolithicpour involves manually tieing the slip dowels, or slip tubes to thereinforcement material in parallel relation to each other prior to theconcrete pour being made. Manual tieing, however, is extremely timeconsuming and presents significant difficulties in securing the sliptubes to the reinforcement material in true parallel relation to eachother. Additionally, the tied slip tubes are susceptible to displacementor shifting when impacted by the concrete during the pour thus movingthe same out of parallel alignment with each other.

In another prior art configuration of the support structure may befabricated from concrete reinforcing wire. Each top segment, sidesegment, and bottom portion may be formed from a single section ofconcrete reinforcing wire by bending such material into the desiredgenerally U-shaped configuration. Then the top, side and base stringersmay be welded at their respective locations in order to from the supportstructure slip tubes are then attached to the top side stringer.

The present invention addresses and overcomes the above-describeddeficiencies associated with the labor intensive formation of thesupport structure and slip tube placement in continuous concrete poursby providing prefabricated support structure that readily receives andinherently aligns the slip tubes accurately during the pouring of suchconcrete slabs. In this respect, the present invention provides anaccurate and easy to use assembly for slip tube and dowel placement in amonolithic pour.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A concrete dowel slip tube assembly is provided for use in maintaining aplanner consistency of a cured concrete slab formed on a supportsurface. The assembly comprises a plurality of elongate slip tubes, eachhaving a length dimension and a tubular hollow interior compartment.Dowels are slidingly engageable to the hollow interior compartment toallow for translation along the interior compartment. A support framedefines a plurality of integral slip tube retaining members, disposed atpreferably evenly spaced locations along the support frame, theretaining members being configured to receive and engage associated sliptubes to the support frame in a common defined orientation. The supportframe and the retaining members are preferably formed as a unitaryconstruction.

The slip tube retaining members are preferably configured to receive andorient the slip tubes along the frame length, substantiallyperpendicular to the support frame length.

The slip tube retaining members may comprise first and second opposingprongs, which collectively define arcuately contoured recesstherebetween for receiving and retaining the slip tubes.

Alternately, the slip tube retaining members may comprise arcuatelycontoured straps, which define and arcuate recess for receiving andengaging the slip tubes. In one embodiment, the slip tubes are engagedto, or otherwise form a portion of the support frame, to define theunitary structure including the support frame (with the slip toretaining members) and the slip tubes.

A plurality of support seats, which are disposable about the supportsurface, and configured to receive and support the slip tubes, e.g.,when the slip tubes are engaged to the support frame. The support seatsmay alternatively/additionally be configured to support the supportframe (e.g., along the side supports or cross members) and dowels.

The support seats may include a height adjustable and screw and engager,for maintaining planner orientation of the support frame and the dowelsover in a regular surface.

The engager may define a plurality of arcuate recesses for engaging theslip tubes, the dowels, the frame support side members and/or the framesupport cross members.

Alternatively, the support frame may be formed to include downwardlyextending support legs, which form a unitary construction with thesupport frame. The support legs may be provided with height adjustablefeet, to maintain planner orientation of the support frame and thedowels, over in a regular surface.

In one embodiment, the support frame (including the slip tube engagingmembers), the slip tubes and the support seat, or the support legs, maybe formed as a unitary structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a concrete dowel slip tube assembly ofthe present invention constructed in accordance with a first embodimentthereof;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the concrete dowel slip tube andsupport structure shown in FIG. 1 in an operative position within amonolithic concrete pour;

FIG. 3A is an exploded view illustrating one implementation of theconcrete dowel slip tube engaging member, for securing the slip tube tothe support structure as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is an exploded view illustrating an alternative implementationof the concrete dowel slip tube engaging member, for securing the sliptube to the support structure as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an exemplary dowel support seat, having aheight adjustable engaging surface; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a concrete dowel slip tube assembly inaccordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation.Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devisevariations that are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondisclosed herein, including various ways of engaging the slip tube tothe support structure. Further, the various features of the embodimentsdisclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with eachother and are not intended to be limited to the specific combinationdescribed herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited bythe illustrated embodiments.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes ofillustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only, andnot for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 perspectively illustratesa concrete dowel slip tube assembly 10 for use with monolithic orcontinuous pour concrete construction techniques. The assembly 10comprises a support structure 12, constructed in accordance with a firstembodiment of the present invention, and at least one concrete dowelslip tube 14 attached thereto. The assembly additionally comprises aconcrete support dowel 16 and a dowel support seat 18. Support structure12 may be constructed to define side segments 52, 54 and a plurality ofcross members 36, collectively formed as a unitary structure (i.e.,molded with the support structure from the same plastic material, orotherwise engaged to the support structure in a manner that precludesnon-destructive disengagement).

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the dowel 16 is sized such that it isslidably insertable into the interior compartment 30 of the slip tube14. The slip tube 14 is typically fabricated from a plastic materialsuch that the dowel 16 may freely slide therewithin. The dowel 16extends outwardly from the open end 22 of slip tube 14 such that anextended end 40 of dowel 16 is firmly adhered by a concrete slab 42poured thereover. The dowel 16 may be fabricated from a section of rebaror other type of material with the necessary strength to preventbuckling or angular displacement of the concrete slab 42, as will befurther explained below. Additionally, the dowel 16 may be formed withribs or ridges (not shown) on an exterior surface thereof to facilitatefrictional retention within the concrete slab 42.

The slip tube 14 constructed in accordance with the present invention isused for supporting the concrete dowel 16 slidably insertable therein.As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slip tube 14 may be constructed as anelongate tube, with an open proximal end 22 and a closed distal end 24.The slip tube 14 has a generally circular cross-sectional area with anexterior surface 26, and an inner surface 28 which defines a hollow,longitudinally extending interior compartment 30 therewithin. Typically,the longitudinal length “L1” of the slip tube 14 is between about 6.0inches and about 30.0 inches. The interior compartment 30 is sizedslightly larger than the outer diameter of the concrete support dowel16. The outer surface 26 of slip tube 14 may further be provided withribs or ridges (not shown) to facilitate frictional retention as will befurther explained below.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3A, slip tube retaining member 31 is shown,which defines clips 32, 33, which are shown mounted on the exteriorsurface of the support structure 12. Clips 32, 33 used to releasablyattach the slip tube 14 to the support structure 12. The clips 32, 33can be integrally connected to support structure 12 to collectively forma unitary structure. Alternatively clips 32, 33 may be detachablyattached to the support structure 12. The clips 32, 33 may comprise afirst prong 34 and a second prong 36 which collectively define anarcuately contoured recess 38 which is sized and configured to receivethe slip tube 14. The prongs 34 and 36 may be fabricated from a flexiblematerial such that receipt of the slip tube 14 into the recess 38facilitates a slight outward flexation of prongs 34, 36 and frictionalretention thereof to support structure 12. As shown at FIG. 1, the clips32, 33 retains the slip tube 14 in a position substantiallyperpendicular to the length L2 of the support structure 12, whereby theconcrete support dowel 16 inserted therein is supported in a prescribedposition as will be further explained below. As explained further below,the tube retaining members are preferably spaced evenly along the lengthof the support frame 12 to facilitate the use of support frames at bothends of the dowels 16. This provides additional advantages in relationto the ease of installation and alignment of the dowels.

Alternatively, the retaining member 35 may be implemented as straps orother retainers, such as arcuate straps 44, 45. Referring to FIGS. 1 and3B, straps 44, 45 are similarly used to releasably attach the slip tube14 to the support structure 12. The straps 44, 45 can be integrallyconnected to support structure 12 to form a unitary structure ordetachably attached to the support structure 12. The straps 44, 45 maydefine an arcuately contoured recess 39, sized and configured to receivethe slip tube 14. The straps 44, 45 may be fabricated from a flexiblematerial such that receipt of the slip tube 14 into the recess 38facilitates a slight outward flexation of the straps 44, 45 tofacilitate frictional retention of the slip tube to the supportstructure 12. The straps 44, 45 retain the slip tube 14 in a positionsubstantially perpendicular to the length L2 of the support structure12, whereby a concrete support dowel 16 inserted therein is supported ina prescribed position as will be further explained below.

As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, theconstruction of a prefabricated support frame, having integral supporttube retainer members, provide significant advantages in theconstruction of a concrete dowel slip tube assembly. By having the slipto slip tube retaining members integrated into the support frame, theorientation of the slip tubes, relative to the support frame, is fixedand does not require manual adjustment of the support frame, or manualalignment of the slip tubes relative to the support frame. This providesconsistency of orientation of the slip tubes along the support frame andmitigates labor and skill requirements to properly array with theconcrete reinforcing structure in a manner that permits linear expansionand contraction of the concrete slabs, while at the same timemaintaining the slabs in a common plane, to prevent undesirable bucklingand unevenness between adjacent slabs. Once the support frame is arrayedabove the surface, e.g., upon the support seat or integral support legs,dowels can be extended into the slip tubes at one or both ends by simplytranslating the support structure to match up the support tubes with theother end of the dowels.

As further described below, the unitary construction may further includeintegral support legs, extending downwardly from the support frame, toavoid the need for arranging the support seats below the sport frame.The support tubes may also be formed integral with the support frame.These and other advantages of the present invention are describedfurther below.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the support dowel 16 is sized such that it isslidably insertable into the interior compartment 30 of the slip tube14. The slip tube 14 is typically fabricated from a plastic materialsuch that the support dowel 16 may freely slide therewithin. The supportdowel 16 extends outwardly from the open end 22 of slip tube 14 suchthat an extended end 40 of dowel 16 is firmly adhered by a concrete slab42 poured thereover. The dowel 16 may be fabricated from a section ofrebar or other type of material with the necessary strength to preventbuckling or angular displacement of the concrete slab 42, as will befurther explained below. Additionally, the dowel 16 may be formed withribs or ridges (not shown) on an exterior surface thereof to facilitatefrictional retention within the concrete slab 42.

Clips 32, 33 and straps 44, 45 are configured on the surface of supportstructure 12, or formed within the support structure 12, to maintain aplurality of concrete dowel slip tubes 14 in a substantially parallelrelationship to one another and parallel to a top surface 58 of concreteslab 42. Additionally, the clips 32, 33 and/or straps 44, 45, connectedto the side segments 52, 54 of support structure 12. Each side segment52, 54 of support structure 12 is attached to cross member 36 such thatthe side members 52, 54 are in parallel alignment with each other tomaintain the slip tubes in substantially coplanar relationship.Additionally, each support seat 18 is sized such that each clip 32 andretainer 44 is elevated above the ground 50 in substantially the samevertical plane. In one embodiment, each support seat 18 has a height ofbetween about 2.5 inches to about 24.0 inches. The clip 32 and/orretainer 44 are spaced to receive and engage the slip tube 14. As such,in one embodiment the length of cross member 36 is between about 6.0inches to about 30.0 inches, and the cross member 26 may be spaced alongthe support structure between about 6.0 to about 30.0 inches.

The concrete dowel slip tube assembly 10 additionally comprises thesupport seat 18. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the support seat 18supports the extended end 40 of support dowel 16. The support seat 18may alternately or additionally be used to support the slip tubes 14,and/or the support structure, at locations such as the integral sidesegments 52, 54 and/or the integral support structure cross members 36.

As seen in FIG. 4, the support seat 18 may comprise a generally annularbase portion 62 that supports a frustum shaped wall 64. The wall 64 maybe provided with a plurality of openings 66 for access to the interiorof the support seat 18 during pouring of concrete. The support seat 18is sized and configured to receive the support dowel 16, slip tube 14,side segment 52 or cross member 36 in at least one of the engagers 68,formed about a top of the base portion 62. The engagers 68 may be sizedwith an interior diameter slightly smaller than the outside diameter ofthe slip tube 14, the support dowel 16 or other supported structure, inorder to frictionally engage the supported structure Therefore, anengager 68 can “snap” onto the supported structure, e.g., the extendedend 40 of support dowel 16 or other structure.

In one embodiment, as shown at FIG. 4, the engager 68 may be heightadjustable in relation to base portion 62, e.g., by rotation of theengager 68 and connecting screw 70, to facilitate maintaining the dowelsor other supported structure in a common plane where the ground 50 isirregular.

In another embodiment, shown at FIG. 5, the support seat may beimplemented as frame member, downwardly extending support legs 72,engaged to the support frame 12. The support legs 72 may be integratedinto the support frame 12, e.g., along side segments 52, 54, to form aunitary structure. In some embodiments the unitary structure may alsoinclude slip tube 14. Height adjustable feet 74 may be connected to thesupport legs 72, to accommodate installation of the unitary supportframe 12 and legs 72 on an irregular ground surface 50.

Now having described the components of the concrete dowel slip tubeassembly 10, the function and method of using each component will beexplained. Reference to the first embodiment of the support structure 12will be made herein, yet it will be recognized that other embodimentssupport structure 12 can be interchanged with the described embodimentin the following description of use. First, slip tubes 14 are attachedto the support structure 12 via clips 32, 33 or straps 44, 45. The sliptubes 14 are typically spaced about 6.0 to 30.0 inches between adjacentslip tubes. As seen in FIG. 1, the slip tubes 14 may be spaced by fourcross member 36.

Next, the support structure 12 is positioned in the location where asawcut 70 will be made in the monolithic concrete slab 42 after pouringand curing thereof. As seen in FIG. 2, the support seat 18 is placedupon the ground surface 50 that supports the concrete slab 42. Thesupport seat 18 is substantially flush with the surface 50. Next, thesupport structure 12 is positioned such that the central axis “A” of theslip tubes 14 is parallel to the top surface 58 of concrete slab 42after pouring thereof. As will be recognized to those of ordinary skillin the art, it is also possible to position the support structure 12 onground surface 50 before the slip tubes 14 are attached thereto. Assuch, once the support structure 12 is in proper position and location,the slip tubes 14 may be connected to the clips 32, 33 or straps 44, 45as needed.

Before the concrete slab 42 is poured, the concrete support dowels 16are inserted within a respective slip tube 14. As previously describedabove, the support structure 12 is configured to support the slip tubes14 and support dowels 16 inserted therein in a substantially paralleland co-planar relationship to one another, and parallel to the topsurface 58 of concrete slab 42. The support dowels 16 are slidablewithin a respective slip tube 14 in order to provide lateraldisplacement of the concrete slab 42 as will be further explained below.The extended end 40 of dowel 16 projects outwardly from the slip tube 14such that the support structure 12 may become imbalanced and tend to tiptoward surface 50. If this happens, then support seat 18 is attached tothe extended end 40 of dowel 16 to provide additional support thereto.The support seat 18 has a height, or is adjustable to have a heightwhich coaxially aligns the support dowel 16 with the central axis “A” ofslip tube 14 when support dowel 16 is attached to a respective dowelengager 68 of support seat 18. The dowel 16 must be easily slidablewithin the slip tube 14 for proper operation. Therefore, the centralaxis “A” of slip tube 14 must be coaxially aligned with support dowel 16in order to prevent binding of the dowel 16 within slip tube 14, as theslip tube 14 is slightly larger than the diameter of the support dowel16. Additionally, support seat 18 aligns the support dowel 16 to axis“A” of slip tube 14 during pouring of the concrete because the weight ofthe concrete can cause the support dowel to bend and therefor bind onslip tube. As such, the support seat 18 provides support to extended end40 of dowel 16 to maintain slip tube 14 substantially perpendicularalignment with support structure 12.

After having placed the dowels 16 into respective slip tubes 14, theconcrete slab 42 is formed by pouring concrete around the supportstructure 12. The concrete encapsulates the support structure 12, theexposed portion of the support dowel 16 and the support seat 18. Sincethe support seat 18 is provided with openings 66 formed therein, theconcrete is able to fully surround and encapsulate support seat 18.Therefore, support seat 18 can remain in place after the concrete hascured. Typically, the height of the support structure 12 is chosen toposition the support dowels 16 midway between the top surface 58 ofconcrete slab 42 and the supporting ground surface 50.

After the concrete slab 42 has cured, the sawcut 70 is formed on the topsurface 58 of concrete slab 42 by sawing the slab 42 with standardconcrete construction techniques. The sawcut 70 is located perpendicularto the central axis “A” of the slip tubes 14. Additionally, the sawcut70 must be located at the junction where the support dowel 16 enters theslip tube 14 (i.e., near the open end 22 of slip tube 14). Since thedowel 16 is longitudinally slidable within the slip tube 14, theconcrete slab 42 may be laterally displaced about sawcut 70. The portionof the support dowel 16 extending within the slip tube 14 is allowed tomove freely in a longitudinal direction, whereas the portion of thedowel 16 extending into the concrete slab 42 is frictionally retainedtherein. The closed end 24 of slip tube 14 prevents the seepage ofconcrete thereinto such that the portion of dowel 16 within the sliptube 14 is freely slidable in a generally horizontal direction.Therefore, the sawcut 70 is placed at the junction between the dowel 16and slip tube 14 since this is the location whereby the dowel 16 isfreely slidable horizontally. However, the dowel 16 is not movable in avertical direction within slab 42 because it is encapsulated by concreteor retained within slip tube 14. Therefore, the dowel 16 can preventbuckling or angular displacement of concrete slab 34 in the area wherebydowel 16 is positioned.

The present invention accurately positions concrete support dowels 16during the pouring of the monolithic concrete slab 42. As such, thepositioning and configuration of the slip tubes 14 can be easily andquickly changed by varying the size of slip tube 14 and correspondingconcrete support dowel 16, as well as the size of the slip tube supportstructure.

Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention mayalso be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art such as varyingthe configuration of the slip tube support structure as well as otherconfigurations for the slip tube retaining members. Thus, the particularcombination of parts described and illustrated herein is intended torepresent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and is notintended to serve as limitations of alternative devices within thespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A concrete dowel slip tube assembly for use in maintaining planar constancy of a cured concrete slab formed on a support surface, the assembly comprising: a) a plurality of elongate slip tubes, each slip tube having a slip tube length dimension and a tubular hollow interior compartment having a substantially constant slip tube cross-sectional dimension; b) a plurality of dowels, each dowel being slidingly engageable within the hollow interior compartment of an associated slip tube, the dowels having a dowel length dimension and a dowel cross-sectional dimension wherein said dowel length dimension and said dowel cross sectional dimensions are less than the slip tube length and the slip tube cross sectional dimension, the dowels further having an external configuration complimentarily to the hollow interior compartment of the associated slip tube; and c) a support frame formed as a unitary structure, the support frame defining a plurality of integral slip tube retaining members disposed at evenly spaced locations along the support frame, the slip tube retaining members being configured to receive and engage the slip tubes to the support frame in a common defined orientation.
 2. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the support frame defines a length, and wherein the slip tube retaining members are configured to receive and orient the slip tubes along the support frame length, substantially perpendicular to the support frame length.
 3. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein the slip tube retaining members comprises first and second opposing prongs which collectively define an arcuately contoured recess therebetween and are engageable to the slip tubes.
 4. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 2 where the slip tube retaining members comprises arcuately contoured straps, the straps being engageable to the slip tubes.
 5. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the slip tubes are engaged to the slip tube receiving members.
 6. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein the support frame, and the slip tubes are formed as a unitary structure.
 7. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of support seats disposable about the support surface, the support seats being configured to receive and support the slip tubes above the support surface when the slip tubes are engaged to the support frame.
 8. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein the support seats are engaged to the slip tubes.
 9. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein the support seats and the slip tubes are formed as a unitary structure.
 10. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein the support seats define a base disposable on the support surface and an engager disposed on the base, the engager being height adjustable relative to the base .
 11. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of support seats disposable about the support surface, the support seats being configured to receive and support the support frame above the support surface.
 12. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of support seats disposable about the support surface, and wherein the support seats are configured to receive and support the support frame cross members above the support surface.
 13. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of downwardly extending support legs, engageable to the support frame wherein the support seats are configured to support the support frame above the support surface.
 14. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein the support frame, and the support legs are formed as a unitary structure.
 15. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein the support frame defines first and second side segments extending along the support frame length, and a plurality of cross members extending intermediate the side segments.
 16. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein the slip tube retaining members define first and second slip tube retaining clips which collectively receive and engage a first slip tube to the support frame, the first and second slip tube retaining clips being engaged to the first and second side segments, respectively.
 17. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein the side segments are disposed parallel to each other and generally co-planar.
 18. The concrete dowel slip tube assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein the frame cross members extend generally perpendicularly relative to the frame side segments. 